Aremu made the proposal at a public lecture organised by the Social Sciences Students’ Association (SOSSA) of Adekunle Ajasin University, where he delivered a paper on Nigeria’s security performance across global indexes and the implications for national stability.
Presenting what he described as “alarming but instructive data,” Aremu said Nigeria currently ranks 142 out of 143 countries on the World Justice Project Rule of Law Index, 148 out of 163 on the Global Peace Index, and 5th globally on the Global Terrorism Index, warning that the figures reflect a worsening national security environment.
He further noted that insecurity has imposed heavy economic and human costs on the country, estimating losses at about ₦2.2 trillion in 2024 alone, alongside widespread casualties and displacement.
Tracing the historical evolution of insecurity in Nigeria, the lecturer referenced events such as the Civil War, Maitatsine riots, Niger Delta militancy, and the emergence of Boko Haram, which he said transformed from a sect into a full-scale insurgency following early warning signs that were ignored by authorities.
He also highlighted the fragmentation of terrorist groups across the North-East and Sahel-linked networks, as well as the expansion of banditry driven by illegal mining and kidnapping economies that have now evolved into what he described as a “ransom-based criminal industry.”
Aremu expressed concern over Nigeria’s vast ungoverned spaces, citing forests such as Sambisa, Alagarno, Kamuku, Kuyambana, Kuduru, and the Old Oyo National Park, which he said have become operational bases for criminal groups due to weak state presence and poor local governance structures.
He also cited figures attributed to the National Bureau of Statistics, as reported in December 2024, indicating that about 2.2 million Nigerians were kidnapped within a year, with ransom payments estimated at ₦2.2 trillion.
The expert linked repeated attacks on schools, including Chibok, Dapchi, Kagara, Greenfield, and recent incidents in parts of Oyo State, to systemic intelligence failures and poor inter-agency coordination.
He warned that Nigeria’s security response has been weakened by what he termed a persistent “blame game” among stakeholders, leading to mistrust, operational gaps, and public disillusionment.
To address the crisis, Aremu recommended a multilevel policing framework, including state policing, enhanced community intelligence systems, coordinated surveillance among neighbouring states, and the deployment of specialised forest guards to secure ungoverned areas.
In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of AAUA, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Adebisi Daramola, commended the lecture as timely and relevant to Nigeria’s current security realities, describing it as a valuable contribution to national discourse.
He praised the student association for fostering intellectual engagement on critical national issues.
Also speaking, the Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Adesuyi Adebukola, stressed that insecurity remains a major threat to national development, urging stakeholders to prioritise collaboration and practical solutions over blame and political disagreements.
